Imagen 4 Standard Pricing & Cost
Imagen 4 Standard is Google's balanced Imagen tier, offering most of Ultra's quality at a 30% credit discount. Best when you want Google Imagen aesthetics without the Ultra premium.
This page breaks down the credit cost for Imagen 4 Standard when called via the AetherWave MCP server from Claude Code, Cursor, Continue, or any MCP-aware agent. Credits map to USD at a fixed rate, so the cost is predictable.
Full cost breakdown
Flat 12 credits per image. Single output. The balanced tier between Imagen 4 Fast and Imagen 4 Ultra.
Cost scenarios in USD
Here is what common workflows cost in USD at Imagen 4 Standard's rate:
| Workflow | Credits | USD |
|---|---|---|
| 1 generation | 12 cr | $0.06 |
| 10 generations | 120 cr | $0.60 |
| 100 generations | 1,200 cr | $6.00 |
| Studio sub fits | 141 generations/mo (1,700 cr) | - |
How Imagen 4 Standard compares
vs imagen-4-ultra at 17 cr: Standard at 12 cr saves 30% per image with slightly less detail. Pick Standard for bulk work, Ultra for hero shots.
12 cr per image
Best for: balanced photoreal image generation
imagen-4-ultra at 17 cr
See the comparison above for when each one wins.
Run aetherwave_list_image_models from Claude Code to see the full live pricing across all models in one call. The MCP rubrics in each tool's description also route the agent automatically when a budget hint is in the prompt.
Where credits come from
You can fund your AetherWave account three ways:
- Free: Starter credits on signup plus up to 80 credits from one-time community quests (Discord, social shares, follow channels)
- Studio subscription: $9.99/mo for 1,700 credits monthly. Cancel any time.
- One-time bundles: starting at $4.99 for 500 credits, up to $79.99 for 9,000 credits. Bundle credits never expire.
Quick install
To run Imagen 4 Standard from Claude Code, install the AetherWave MCP server with one command:
Get your free API key at your Profile page (Developer tab). The MCP exposes 31 tools total; aetherwave_generate_image is the one that gives the agent access to Imagen 4 Standard.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Imagen 4 Standard cost per generation?
Flat 12 credits per image. Single output. The balanced tier between Imagen 4 Fast and Imagen 4 Ultra.
How do AetherWave credits convert to USD?
Credits map to USD at a fixed rate, so Imagen 4 Standard's 12 cr per image translates to the per-generation figures in the scenario table above. Credits come from a Studio subscription, one-time bundles, or starter credits + community quests on the free tier.
Is Imagen 4 Standard worth the cost vs cheaper alternatives?
vs imagen-4-ultra at 17 cr: Standard at 12 cr saves 30% per image with slightly less detail. Pick Standard for bulk work, Ultra for hero shots. The right call depends on what matters most for your workflow: variation count, deterministic output, latency, or absolute quality ceiling.
Start running Imagen 4 Standard
Free API key plus starter credits. One MCP install. First Imagen 4 Standard generation in under five minutes.
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